VIDEO: Margaret Powers, PhD, RD, CDE, Discusses the Effect Genetic Testing Has on Behavioral Change

Dr. Margaret Powers says that currently genetic testing does not motivate behavior change and weight loss in diabetes care. Patients who did not receive the test did just as well with behavior changes as patients who knew they were high risk through genetic testing.

Powers did go on to say that, in the study she refers to, patients who were predisposed to diabetes only had a 17% to 18% risk. She goes on to say that more research needs to be completed in order to determine what might better motivate patients. For instance, the advancement of genetic testing could help determine if a patient is at an even higher risk of diabetes (>17%), in which case, posits Powers, they might become more motivated to change their behavior.